PREVIEW: Port Vale vs Accrington Stanley

The Valiants go into Tuesday night’s clash with Accrington Stanley following a run of two consecutive draws, one at home to Forest Green Rovers and one away to Yeovil Town.

With Ned Kelly and Chris Morgan still in charge, the pair will be hoping to build on those stalemates with a victory on home soil.

It will be the first time Accrington have travelled to Vale Park since 2013, when on that day Micky Adams side were 3-0 winners.

The Opposition

Having just missed out on promotion to Sky Bet League One two seasons ago, Accrington have made a positive start to the 2017/18 campaign.

With nine games played to this point, they sit fourth in the division with 17 points to their name. However, they are in mixed form as of late.

In their last three league outings they have registered one draw, one loss and one win. A home defeat to Grimsby Town was followed up by a triumph over Chesterfield, but more recently, they drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Town at the Wham Stadium.

Talk

Chris Morgan: “The boys are upbeat and positive and are looking forward to tomorrow night.

“As we have always said, we feel that we have a good group of lads ourselves. We have had a couple of decent draws; the Forest Green game we felt as though we did enough to win and let ourselves down a bit with the equaliser. We felt as though we did enough to win away at Yeovil as well.”

John Coleman: “I am surprised to see Port Vale where they are.

“I’ve already watched them first hand this season so I know what they’re about and how they play, they’ve dropped down for League One in the summer and they will be a dangerous opposition.

“Every team in this league are capable of beating one another and putting a run together, it will be difficult but we are confident that we can put our stamp on the game and come away with a positive result. We went to Chesterfield under similar circumstances and managed to pick up all three points.”

Team News

Vale will be without goalkeeper Rob Lainton after he suffered an injury in the game at Coventry City, whilst Anton Forrester and Danny Pugh remain sidelined.

Tyler Denton was substituted through illness at Yeovil on Saturday, but he could feature. Tyrone Barnett is also fit after recovering from a hamstring problem. Cristian Montano, however, is still a long term absentee.

Accrington also have a goalkeeper unavailable for selection as Max Stryjek picked up a hamstring injury on his debut before suffering a setback in training.

Ben Richards-Everton is also out with a dislocated shoulder, but Kayden Jackson could return after limping off during the draw with Cheltenham Town.

Coverage

Follow The Vale will be providing full 90 minute commentary from the match, while the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.

There will also be build-up to the game with the official Snapchat account: officialpvfc.

Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.

REPORT: Port Vale 1-2 Accrington Stanley

Port Vale fell to a home defeat on Tuesday night as high-flying Accrington Stanley edged a tightly fought contest. David Worrall had given the Valiants the lead during the first half, but a brace from Billy Kee was enough to ensure John Coleman’s men left with all three points

In the opening exchanges both sides looked to gain a foothold on proceedings, but it was Vale who had the first shot on goal with seven minutes played. Tyrone Barnett tried an ambitious volley from outside the area, but his effort skewed safely into the hands of Accrington ‘keeper, Aaron Chapman.

Just three minutes later, the Valiants broke forward again and Tyler Denton fizzed in a dangerous cross that evaded a huddle of bodies in the box. The ball was recycled by Vale, however, and Ben Whitfield rattled a strike against the crossbar from close range after losing his marker.

The winger was then at the heart of another forward move on 19 minutes, this time crossing to Barnett who towered above a defender to loop a header onto the woodwork. Vale’s persistence did pay off moments later though, as David Worrall capped off a neat move with a curled finish that nestled into the far corner to put the hosts ahead.

Accrington took 31 minutes to fashion their first clear opportunity of the game, but Liam Nolan could only fire over after latching onto a loose ball inside the area. Against the run of play just five minutes later, the visitors found an equaliser as Billy Kee struck a low half-volley beyond Kelle Roos via the inside of the post.

After conceding, the Valiants continued to probe forward and some good work between Tom Pope and Barnett on 42 minutes led to the latter acrobatically volleying just off target from 18 yards. Following the restart, it was the home side who looked livelier and Denton almost worked a chance three minutes into the second half. He got on the end of a Barnett flick, only to be closed down well by the ‘keeper.

With 57 minutes played, Vale almost regained a one-goal advantage as Whitfield and Denton combined well down the left flank. The defender’s drilled cross found Pope at the front post and his stab towards goal was smartly saved by Chapman. It was then Stanley who pulled in front on 62 minutes as Kee met a cross to tap home from inside the six-yard box.

As Vale searched for a route back into the game, substitute Anthony de Freitas flashed an effort inches wide of the far post just four minutes later. The midfielder was then presented with another chance on 69 minutes, but he failed to keep his strike down and Chapman was left relieved that his weak punch didn’t cost his side a goal.

In the final moments Vale attempted to break down a rigid Accrington defence, but the visitors stood firm to hold their slender lead. Michael Tonge did hit a free-kick over the top of the bar on 83 minutes and a host of aerial balls were dealt with by the Stanley back line before the referee blew his whistle to signal full-time.